Adams hits back at claims over woman's death

GERRY Adams yesterday hit back at "anti-republican elements" pursuing him over the death of a woman at the hands of the IRA and said he would not divulge his role during the campaign.

The Sinn Fein leader said critics were trying to stop the party's development and he was proud to have been part of the "struggle".

Former senior IRA commander Brendan Hughes gave an interview, claiming the West Belfast MP ordered the death of Jean McConville,a mother of ten, in 1972 for allegedly informing to the British authorities.

Mr Adams told an Easter commemoration in Belfast: "During this phase of the struggle, some of us had to leave our families and homes, go on the run, adapt many ruses, go under false names.

"We relied totally on the support of the people to protect us. And we, in turn, protected the people as best we could. We did not divulge their names, their roles, their actions.

"That is still my position," he added. "That was the bond of comradeship and loyalty which was forged between us."

Mr Adams has consistently denied claims that he was involved in the murder of Mrs McConville.

The IRA has admitted killing and burying the woman, whose body was only found in 2003.